Nail polish bottle display device

ABSTRACT

An improved nail polish bottle display device is provided that enhances the ability of consumers to view the contents of nail polish bottles, allows for varying decorative arrangements of bottles during display, and aids in maintaining a mixture of the contents of nail polish bottles during storage and display. The improved nail polish bottle display device includes a support member and a display member projecting from the support member. The display member includes at least one aperture that is recessed with a first diameter in a top surface of the display member and a second reduced diameter offset from the first diameter. The aperture is configured to seat and position an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle. The aperture may also provide for inverted positioning of a nail polish bottle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a nail polish bottle display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fingernail polish comes in many different colors and shades. In order toaid a consumer, nail polish bottles are often displayed on verticalracks, showing an array of colors from which the consumer may choose.These racks generally provide for upright positioning of the bottle. Dueto the structure of the conventional nail polish bottle, a consumer'sview of the color of the bottle contents in the body of the bottle maybe obscured by the head and neck portion of a bottle. It would be abenefit, therefore, to have a bottle display device that would allow forupside down storage of a nail polish bottle, so that the head and neckportion of a conventional bottle would be hidden from consumer view,allowing for better viewing of the bottle contents contained within thebody of the bottle. In addition, storage racks allowing for only uprightpositioning of nail polish bottles are not aesthetically pleasing to theconsumer and do not draw the consumer's attention as a display device byallowing for varying decorative arrangements of bottles. Finally, nailpolish must be sufficiently mixed before application to a consumer'snails. Mixture may be enhanced by alternating between upright andinverted storage of a nail polish bottle. For all of these reasons, itwould be a benefit to have a nail polish bottle display device thatwould allow for inverted positioning of a nail polish bottle, but wouldalso allow for upright positioning of a nail polish bottle.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a nail polish bottle displaydevice configured for inverted positioning of nail polish bottles duringstorage. Inverted positioning of nail polish bottles may aid in thedisplay of the bottle contents in the body of the bottle, withoutobstruction by the head and neck portion of the bottle. Furthermore, itis desirable to provide a nail polish bottle display device that allowsfor upright positioning of nail polish bottles during storage, inaddition to inverted positioning, so that countless number of decorativebottle arrangements may be created in order to provide a moreaesthetically pleasing nail polish bottle display device. In addition toimproving the decorative display aspect of the inventive device,allowing for both upright and inverted positioning of nail polishbottles during storage may also be desirable to assist in maintainingthe mixture of the contents of nail polish bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a nail polish bottle display device. Thenail polish bottle display device includes a support member and adisplay member projecting from the support member. The display memberincludes at least one aperture that is recessed with a first diameter ina top surface of the display member and a second reduced diameter offsetfrom the first diameter. The aperture may be configured to seat andposition an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle.

A nail polish bottle display device in accordance with the presentinvention is advantageous as compared to existing nail polish bottledisplay devices. First, the inventive display device has the benefit ofallowing for inverted positioning of nail polish bottles so that thedisplay device provides a view of the contents of a nail polish bottlecontained within the body of the bottle unobstructed by the head andneck portion of a conventional bottle. Second, an embodiment providingfor the display of multiple nail polish bottles has the benefit ofallowing for arrangement of nail polish bottles in an array where eachrow of nail polish bottles is progressively higher than the row in frontof it, providing an unobstructed view of each row. Third, the inventivedisplay device has the benefit of allowing for upright positioning ofnail polish bottles in addition to inverted positioning, so that variousdecorative arrangements of bottles may be created, thereby drawing theconsumer's attention to the display device and providing a moreaesthetically pleasing display device. Fourth, because the inventivedisplay device provides for both upright and inverted positioning ofnail polish bottles, mixture of the contents of the nail polish bottlesmay be enhanced by alternating between upright and inverted storage ofnail polish bottles.

These and other features and objects of this invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings illustrating features of thisinvention by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a display deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a display device constructed inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, shownwith a nail polish bottle that may be upwardly disposed within thedisplay device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a display device constructed inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, shownwith a nail polish bottle that may be disposed in an inverted positionwithin the display device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a first embodiment of adisplay device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a first embodiment of adisplay device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a display deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a display device constructed inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, shownwith nail polish bottles that may be disposed within the display devicein a desired pattern.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a display device constructed inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, shownwith nail polish bottles that may be disposed within the display devicein a desired pattern.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a display deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a display deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a display deviceaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedto identify identical or similar components in the various views, FIGS.1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of the nail polish bottledisplay device 10 The display device may be formed of clear acrylic orother plastic material. However, it is to be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that the display device may be formed of anynumber of other materials and still fall within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. The display device may include a support member 12 and adisplay member 14. Each member is of a small thickness, such as a fewmillimeters, but may be made thicker and still fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

Support member 12 is provided to support display member 14. As shown inthe first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, support member 12 may berectangular in shape, including four edges, 16, 18, 20, 22. It should benoted that while only a rectangular support member is discussed indetail, it is provided for exemplary purposes only and is not limitingin nature. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety ofshapes may exist that remain within the spirit and scope of theinvention and provide an adequate support member. It should further benoted that while only a single support member is described in detail, itis provided for exemplary purposes only and is not limiting in nature.Those skilled in the art will recognize that a plurality of supportmembers may be used to support the display surface 14 and remain withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the nailpolish bottle display device 10 may include a base 24. Base 24 isprovided for placement and stabilization of display device 10 on agenerally horizontal surface. Base 24 may be rectangular in shape,including four edges 26, 28, 30, 32. It should be noted that while onlya rectangular base is discussed in detail, it is provided for exemplarypurposes only and is not limiting in nature. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that a variety of shapes may exist that remain within thespirit and scope of the invention and provide an adequate base. Supportmember 12 extends from base 24 at edge 20 and is generally perpendicularto base 24. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatsupport member 12 may be at an acute or obtuse angle relative to base24.

Display member 14 is provided for display of at least one nail polishbottle by including at least one aperture 34 therein. Display member 14may be generally rectangular in shape, including four edges 36, 38, 40,42. Edge 36 of display member 14 meets an edge 16 of support member 12,opposing edge 20. It should be noted that while only a rectangulardisplay member is discussed in detail, it is provided for exemplarypurposes only and is not limiting in nature. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that a variety of shapes may exist that remain within thespirit and scope of the invention and provide an adequate displaymember. Display member 14 may be in a first plane 44, while base 24 isin a second plane 46. Plane 44 of display member 14 may be at an inclinerelative to plane 46 of base 24. More particularly, plane 44 of displaymember 14 may be at an acute angle relative to second plane 46 of base24.

Aperture 34 is provided for both upright and inverted positioning of anail polish bottle upon display member 14. Aperture 34 is recessed sothat aperture 34 may be configured to seat and position an upwardlypositioned nail polish bottle 50, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Recessedaperture 34 may include a radially inwardly tapering chamfer 48 withstraight edges, or recessed aperture 34 may have a scalloped or curvedindentation forming the recess. Aperture 34 may be generally circular inshape as shown in FIG. 1. While only a circular aperture is discussed indetail and illustrated in the drawings, it is provided for exemplarypurposes only and is not limiting in nature. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that a variety of shapes may exist that remain within thespirit and scope of the invention and provide an adequate apertureshape, such as aperture 34 being generally rectangular in shape. FIG. 2shows a perspective view of a display device constructed in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention, including a nailpolish bottle 50 that may be upwardly disposed within aperture 34 ofdisplay device 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a display device 10constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. FIG. 3 also shows a nail polish bottle 50 disposedin an inverted position within aperture 34 of display device 10. Supportmember 12 is configured in size so as to space said display member 14from said base 24 to allow a head and neck portion 52 of a nail polishbottle 50 in an inverted position to extend through aperture 34, but notengage base 24.

There are numerous standard size or conventional nail polish bottles.The nail polish bottle display device is dimensioned to display smallcommercially available nail polish bottles in both upward and invertedpositions. Although not an exhaustive list, commercially available nailpolish bottles may include nail polish bottles with the followingdescribed dimensions: a total bottle height ranging from 2¾″ to 3¾″; abody height ranging from 1⅜″ to 2″; a head and neck height ranging from1″ to 1¾″; a body diameter ranging from ¾″ to 1½″; and a head and neckdiameter ranging from ½″ to ¾″. For example only, the nail polish bottledisplay device may be dimensioned so as display a nail polish bottlewith the following dimensions: a total bottle height of 3 3/16″, a bodyheight of 1⅝″, a head and neck height of 1 9/16″, a body diameter of1¼″, and a head and neck diameter of ⅝. It should be noted that whilethese dimensions are listed in detail, those skilled in the art willrecognize that any number of commercially available bottles with variousdimensions may be displayed on the inventive nail polish bottle displaydevice.

The recessed nature of aperture 34 is provided to allow for both uprightand inverted positioning of a nail polish bottle within a singleaperture 34. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a firstembodiment 10 of the present invention Aperture 34 may extend throughdisplay member 14 from a top surface 56 to a bottom surface 60. Aperture34 may include a first diameter 54 in a top surface 56 of display member14. Aperture 34 may include a second reduced diameter 58 offset fromfirst diameter 54. Reduced diameter 58 may be offset from first diameter54 in an axial direction, where the axis extends through the center ofaperture 34. Recessed aperture 34 may include a radially inwardlytapering chamfer 48. Chamfer 48 may include a top surface 56 of displaymember 14 and a chamfer wall surface 59 meeting at an angle differentfrom 90 degrees. In particular, top surface 56 and wall surface 59 maymeet at an obtuse angle. Wall surface 59 may be generally straight, asillustrated, or may be curved or scalloped. Wall surface 59 may taperfrom top surface 56 of display member 14 to bottom surface 60 of displaymember 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 5, wall surface 59 may taper from top surface 56 of display member14 to a point disposed between top surface 56 and bottom surface 60 ofdisplay member 14, so that aperture 34 maintains a reduced diameter 58through at least a portion of display member 14, rather than only inbottom surface 60. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first diameter 54 isgreater than second diameter 58. First diameter 54 of aperture 34 isgreater than or equal to a diameter 62 of a conventional body 64 of anail polish bottle 50 to be positioned in aperture 34 and greater than adiameter 66 of a conventional head and neck portion 52 of a nail polishbottle 50 to be positioned in aperture 34. Reduced second diameter 58 ofaperture 34 is smaller than a diameter 62 of a conventional body 64 of anail polish bottle 50 to be positioned in aperture 34 and greater thanor equal to a diameter 66 of a conventional head and neck portion 52 ofa nail polish bottle 50 to be positioned in aperture 34.

In other embodiments of the inventive nail polish bottle display device,the display device may include a plurality of apertures. In otherrespects, the additional embodiments described below are substantiallysimilar to the first embodiment 10 described above. The plurality ofapertures of the display device may be evenly spaced within the displaymember. FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a display device 110with a plurality of apertures arranged in an array, with a first row 68of apertures and at least one rearward row 70 of apertures behind firstrow 68. The array of apertures may be a regular array with straight linerows and columns. An axis defined by the straight line rows may beparallel to a side edge 138 of display member 114, while an axis definedby the straight line columns may be perpendicular to a side edge 138 ofdisplay member 114. Referring again to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment ofthe inventive display device 110, the array of apertures may comprisetwo rows and two columns, resulting in four total apertures.

As shown in FIG. 7, because plane 144 of display member 114 may be at anincline relative to plane 146 of base 124, and in particular, plane 144of display member 114 may be at an acute angle relative to second plane146 of base 124, nail polish bottles disposed within the apertures ofdisplay device 110 attain a staggered effect with each row beingprogressively higher than the row in front of that row. The staggeredeffect allows the view of the nail polish bottles disposed withinrearward row 70 to not be blocked by nail polish bottles disposed withinfront row 68. Accordingly, all rows in the array may be seen from thefront of the display device. Because display device 110 allows for thestorage of nail polish bottles in an inverted position, the contents ofthe nail polish bottles contained within the body 64 of the nail polishbottle 50 may be viewed unobstructed by the head and neck portion 52 ofa conventional nail polish bottle 50.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the dual positioning feature of the inventivedisplay device 110 provides for aesthetically pleasing arrangements ofnail polish bottles using the inventive display device 110. As shown inFIG. 8, adjacent nail polish bottles may be positioned in alternatingupright and inverted positions. For example only, in the secondembodiment of the display device 110, there are several possiblearrangements. For example, all four nail polish bottles may be invertedin order to best view the bottle contents. As another example, all fournail polish bottles may be upwardly positioned. Other more aestheticallypleasing arrangements are possible, where a first row of nail polishbottles are upwardly positioned and a second row of nail polish bottlesare inverted, or vice versa. In another arrangement, as illustrated inFIG. 8, each row may contain alternating upwardly positioned andinverted nail polish bottles. The nail polish bottles in each column mayalso be in alternate positions, with the nail polish bottle in arearward row of a column inverted and the nail polish bottle in theforward row of the same column upwardly positioned. Another arrangementmay provide for all the nail polish bottles in each column to remainupwardly positioned or remain inverted. Countless arrangements arepossible, thereby drawing attention to the display device and enhancingthe display feature of the inventive device.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the inventive display device210 in which the array of apertures may comprise two rows and sixcolumns, resulting in twelve total apertures. FIG. 10 illustrates afourth embodiment of the inventive display device 310 in which the arrayof apertures may comprise five rows and six columns, resulting in 30total apertures. It should be noted that while only these fourembodiments of the array are described in detail, they are provided forexemplary purposes only and are not limiting in nature. Those skilled inthe art will recognize that any number of apertures may appear in thearray of the display device and remain within the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the inventive display device410, including support member 412 and display member 414. Inventivedisplay device 410 is substantially similar to display device 10, withthe elimination of base 24 and with modifications to support member 412.Support member 412 may be perpendicular to display member 414 and mayalso be configured for mounting display device 414 to a wall that isgenerally vertical. Display device 410 also includes a display member414 with at least one aperture 34 as described in connection withprevious embodiments.

In addition, display device 410 may include a second display member 472projecting from support member 412. Second display member 472 issubstantially identical to display member 414, including at least oneaperture 34. Support member 412 of display device 410 is configured insize so as to space first display member 414 from second display member472 to allow a head and neck portion 52 of a conventional nail polishbottle 50 in an inverted position to extend through aperture 34 of firstdisplay member 414, but not engage a conventional upwardly positionednail polish bottle 50 disposed in aperture 34 of second display member472. Support member 414 is further configured in size so as to spacefirst display member 414 from second display member 472 to allow a headand neck portion 52 of a conventional nail polish bottle 50 in aninverted position to extend through aperture 34 of first display member414, but not engage a conventional inverted nail polish bottle 50disposed in aperture 34 of second display member 472. While only twodisplay members 414, 472 are discussed in detail, they are provided forexemplary purposes only and are not limiting in nature. Those skilled inthe art will recognize that any number of display members may projectfrom support member 412 and remain within the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example only, FIG. 10 shows four display members 414,472, 474, 476 extending from support member 412.

Display member 414 and each additional display member extending fromsupport member 412 may include four edges 436, 438, 440, 442. Edge 436meets support member 412 and provides for attachment of display member414 to support member 412. Display member 414 may include a first wall478 extending upward from edge 440 of display member 414. Wall 478 maybe configured in height so as to be shorter than a body 64 of aconventional nail polish bottle 50. Display member 414 may include asecond wall 480 extending upward from edge 438 of display member 414.Wall 480 may be configured in height so as to be shorter than a body 64of a conventional nail polish bottle 50. Display member 414 may includea third wall 482 extending upward from edge 442 of display member 414.Wall 482 may be configured in height so as to be shorter than a body 64of a conventional nail polish bottle 50.

A nail polish bottle display device in accordance with the presentinvention has many advantages as compared to various conventional nailpolish bottle display devices. Apertures that provide for invertedpositioning of nail polish bottles provide a view of the contents withinthe body of a nail polish bottle, unobstructed by the head and neckportion of a nail polish bottle. Apertures that are configured not onlyfor inverted positioning of nail polish bottles, but also for upwardpositioning of nail polish bottles, offer the further advantage thatvarious decorative arrangements of nail polish bottles may be created,thereby drawing the consumer's attention to the display device andproviding a more aesthetically pleasing display device. In addition toenhancing the aesthetic feature of the display device, allowing for bothinverted and upward positioning of stored nail polish bottles enables auser of the inventive display device to effectively keep the contents ofnail polish bottles thoroughly mixed in order to avoid the settling andseparation of a portion of the contents to the bottom of the nail polishbottle, associated with entirely upward positioning of nail polishbottles during storage.

Again, while the invention has been shown and described with referenceto one or more particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose of skill in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A nail polish bottle display device, comprising: a support member; and a display member projecting from said support member, said display member including at least one aperture therein, wherein said aperture is recessed with a first closed perimeter defining a first diameter in a top surface of said display member and a second closed perimeter defining a second reduced diameter offset from said first diameter, said aperture configured to seat and position an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle that is inserted from above said aperture.
 2. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said aperture has a generally circular shape.
 3. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said aperture has a generally rectangular shape.
 4. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said recessed aperture includes a radially inwardly tapering chamfer.
 5. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said first diameter of said aperture is greater than a diameter of a body of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture.
 6. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 5 wherein said first diameter of said aperture is greater than a diameter of a head and neck portion of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture.
 7. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 6 wherein said second diameter of said aperture is smaller than a diameter of a body of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture.
 8. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 7 wherein said second diameter of said aperture is greater than a diameter of a head and neck portion of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture.
 9. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said display member includes a plurality of apertures.
 10. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 9 wherein said plurality of apertures is evenly spaced within said display member.
 11. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 further comprising a base from which said support member extends.
 12. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 11 wherein said support member is perpendicular to said base.
 13. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 12 wherein said display member is in a first plane and said base is in a second plane, wherein said first plane of said display member is at an incline relative to said second plane of said base.
 14. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 13 wherein said first plane of said display member is at an acute angle relative to said second plane of said base.
 15. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 11 wherein said support member is configured in size so as to space said display member from said base to allow a head and neck portion of a nail polish bottle to be disposed in an inverted position within said aperture to extend through said aperture, but not engage said base.
 16. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said support member is perpendicular to said display member.
 17. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said support member is configured for mounting said display device to a wall that is generally vertical.
 18. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 further comprising a second display member projecting from said support member, said second display member including at least one aperture therein, wherein said aperture is recessed with a first diameter in a top surface of said display member and a second reduced diameter offset from said first diameter, said aperture configured to seat and position an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle.
 19. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 18 wherein said support member is configured in size so as to space said first display member from said second display member to allow a head and neck portion of a nail polish bottle to be disposed in an inverted position within said aperture to extend through said aperture of said first display member, but not engage an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle to be disposed in said aperture of said second display member.
 20. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 19 wherein said support member is configured in size so as to space said first display member from said second display member to allow a head and neck portion of said nail polish bottle to be disposed in an inverted position within said aperture to extend through said aperture of said first display member, but not engage an inverted nail polish bottle to be disposed in said aperture of said second display member.
 21. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of display members projecting from said support member, each of said plurality of display members including at least one aperture therein, wherein said aperture is recessed with a first diameter in a top surface of said display member and a second reduced diameter offset from said first diameter, said aperture configured to seat and position an upwardly positioned nail polish bottle.
 22. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 1 wherein said display member includes a first wall extending upward from a first edge of said display member, said first wall being configured in height so as to be smaller than a body of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture of said display member.
 23. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 22 wherein said display member includes a second wall extending upward from a second edge of said display member, said second wall being configured in height so as to be smaller than a body of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture of said display member.
 24. The nail polish bottle display device of claim 23 wherein said display member includes a third wall extending upward from a third edge of said display member, said third wall being configured in height so as to be smaller than a body of a nail polish bottle to be positioned in said aperture of said display member. 